DANIELLA✔

Chapter thirty-three

It was a new year, precisely the first week of the month and at the moment I was packing up my luggage in preparation to leave the village. I had spent a week and some days in the village and believe me, I enjoyed every bit of my stay.

The night before the first of January was my best moment in the village. Mama, papa and I went to church for crossover service. The service was awesome as we literally danced our way to the new year. At exactly twelve o'clock on the dot, everyone in the church screamed happy new year and started to hug friends, families and people that were sitting close to them. I wasn't any exemption.

Outside the church, fireworks were set off, bangers were blown. Watching the fireworks made me remember my childhood days in the village when some adults would use those fireworks to scare us children and we would run for our dear lives. It was all fun; I could relive the moment.

The only downside of my stay in the village was the fact that mama's leg got injured while I was here. Ever since that child stoned her leg, she hadn't been able to walk properly. She had even resulted in using a walking stick to move from one place to the other and I'm not exaggerating when I say her movement was as slow as a snail. I just wish I could stay a little while longer to take care of her, but school was calling for me! Pacific college had resumed, so I had to go back to the city in order that I wouldn't lag on my studies.

I placed my luggage and the half bag of garri, mama prepared for aunt Caro and her family, on the backseat of the tricycle that was parked in front of our compound.

"Papa! I'm ready to go o!" I called for papa, who was inside the house. Mama was sitting outside in the porch.

"E nwam! I'd miss you my child. Be good, oh? I'd keep praying for you." Mama said and her voice was huskier than normal.

I ran to meet her where she was seated and enclosed her in a warm embrace. The instant I hugged her, tears trickled down my cheeks. I couldn't bare the thought that I was going to be leaving them once again.

Papa came out from inside the house and walked towards us.

"Eh, my Daniella is leaving us again o." Papa said and pulled me in a bone crushing hug. Those kind of hugs that denies you of breath.

"Papa I can't breathe." I struggled to say.

He chuckled as he pulled out from me. He took my hands, muttered some prayers in Igbo and blew air from his mouth to my palms. He did it thrice. It was something he usually did whenever he wanted to give out his blessings.

Once that was done, I hugged mama and papa once again and I moved into the tricycle. It was really an emotional moment for me, knowing I wouldn't be seeing them anytime soon. And they were ageing each passing moment. I cried and cried as the tricyclist drove me off to the station where I would get a bus going to Lagos. It got to a point he turned back to ask why I was crying. I told him nothing and that he should just focus on getting me to my destination.

When we got to the bus station, I paid the tricyclist and he helped me in carrying my luggage and bags close to the lined up buses. He was actually very nice. I thanked him before he left. Afterwards, I did all the necessary proceedings and finally I was on the bus that headed to Lagos.

As the bus started to move, the only thought on my mind was Lagos here I come.

***

"How was the journey?" Aunt Caro beamed at me as I carried the bag of garri to the kitchen. I got to Lagos quite early but because of the traffic, I reached the house pretty late. Lagos traffic was hell!

"It was fine." I feigned a smile as I answered. She was acting all cheerful, so I had to mirror her mood.

"So you were able to go to the village and return all by yourself? That's impressive! How is mama and papa?" She asked.